RECORD OF CONDITION I 73 



the determinati(3n of the tenancy, it would approximately 

 meet the real difificulty. 



Mr Read suggests that the valuers at the entry should 

 state whether the land was foul or clean, in a high state 

 of cultivation or impoverished. Such a record would 

 protect the landlord as well as the tenant. Mr Rowland- 

 son thinks the cost of such a survey and record would 

 only amount to about ten guineas for a 400 acre farm, 

 and that it would be money well spent. 



To facilitate the adoption of this system, the Committee 

 of the Central Chamber recommend that every award 

 should include a record of the condition, and when there 

 is no award, it might be made an essential part of every 

 agreement. Mr Parton suggests that the record should 

 be retained by some Government official, and would 

 extend the principle to the recording of any first-class 

 improvements effected by the tenant with the landlord's 

 consent. 



Some of the witnesses are clearly of opinion that such 

 a record could be made to act as a real measure of the 

 improvement or deterioration afterwards. Thus, Mr 

 Lander, Mr Reynolds, and others say, that on quitting, 

 the tenant should either receive from the [landlord, or 

 pay to the landlord, the money value of improved, or 

 deteriorated condition. 



Mr Olver thinks this system would create a sense of 

 security and confidence, and promote good farming. 



Mr Pringle says that in the South Midlands, "the 

 scheduling system '' is universally accepted both by 

 landlords and tenants, and that it is also wished that 

 " at any time during the currency of a lease or tenancy 

 it should be in the power of either party to have an 

 intermediate report drawn up by the district arbitrator." 

 He adds : — " By this system two very necessary and 

 important points would be gained, (i.) If a landlord 

 proposed to raise ttie rent on a holding increased in 

 letting value by the improvements and exertions of the 

 tenant, the tenant could, by having the holding re- 

 scheduled, prove to the landlord that before an increase 

 of rent could be obtained, it would be necessary for him 



